It’s a few days away from Thanksgiving and boy do I have a lot to be thankful for! For those of you who “follow” me, this has been quite a fall. My mom had knee surgery and my son had several blood clots and had his rib removed. But, thankfully, they are both doing well and recovery is just a road we follow. I am extremely grateful for the friendship and love and unwavering support of family and friends and medical professionals.
And so this festive and hectic holiday season, while surrounding ourselves with family and friends, I can breathe easier. And whether you are with friends, family or just taking a peaceful day for yourself, I want to stress the importance of staying fit and active and emotionally healthy (it helped me to handle it all!).
Here are some simple tips:
Eat healthy and exercise daily. The combination of eating balanced (including some of your “forbidden treats”) and daily exercise can help you to feel good overall and for sure will help to boost your mood (and the mood-enhancing benefits of exercise can help you manage the mental stress of the holidays!).
Exercise burns calories! Even after you indulge in your holiday meals, exercise can help you to maintain your healthy weight. I am not saying to get on the treadmill before or after in order for you to eat, but exercising daily, in general, will help you to maintain your weight. Your body will not change after one indulgent meal. And, I find that there is nothing like a walk after a big meal to help your digestion.
Exercise is fun! Engaging in an activity with a friend or a group can provide laughs and is a good way to spend time with your friends. Rather than sitting on the couch watching a game or a netflix (and I am not against doing this at times), I encourage you to also go outside and play a game or go for a walk or a run and enjoy your surroundings and breathe in the fresh air.
Incorporating these healthy tips can help you to feel good when times get challenging. Trust me! And for help and encouragement during these times ahead, contact me at rachel@livehealthynyc.com